Letter: Traffic crackdown needed in valley

Tuesday, March 9, 1999 | 11:50 a.m.

They pass on the right to cut across three lanes of traffic to make a left turn, and vice-versa. They routinely exceed the posted speed limit by 30 percent, sometimes 40 percent or more.

The collisions they cause are not accidents. They are criminal attempts to commit suicide or mayhem. Few of these people are under the influence of alcohol, but rather are under the influence of illegal drugs, or actually in many cases legal prescription drugs which they are abusing.

I don't care if they kill themselves, but I do object to their risking your life and mine in the process. If we had a little traffic law enforcement in this community, these people could be institutionalized.

Or better yet, it would be a lot less expensive if we just institutionalized their cars by impounding them for a month or two while their erstwhile drivers get acquainted with our wonderful bus system.

A few hundred hours of community service would give them something to occupy their leisure time. We need to convince them that since they're not going to leave this world alive anyway, there's really not that much reason to hurry. Leave the hurrying to the police, firemen and paramedics. Just stay out of their way.

DEAN SCRIBNER